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Richmond Heights City Council approves Mayor Headen's new finance director, building commissioner; denies law director

David Roche Richmond Heights.JPG

Richmond Heights Council President David Roche (right) said council denied the mayor's appointment for a new law director Tuesday because he is more expensive then the former law director, Todd Hunt (second from left). While the mayor looks for another appointee, council is receiving legal advice from the firm where Hunt is employed.
(Sara Dorn, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Richmond Heights City Council approved Mayor Miesha Headen's selections for an acting building commissioner and finance director Tuesday, but denied her choice for a law director.

This comes after five meetings since mid-May where council has refused to vote, on all but one of the mayor's appointees. Monday, they agreed on an acting police prosecutor.

In a series of emails, Headen begged council members to approve her appointments, claiming council would be at fault if the city defaulted on outstanding notes that were due to mature earlier this week.

Council members said they wanted legal counsel first, but couldn't get it because the mayor fired the former law director, Todd Hunt, and vetoed their legislation to rehire the firm where Hunt is employed, Walter Haverfield.

Mitchell Michalec, Finance Director

Who he is: Michalec, 49, was Streetsboro's finance director from 2008 until he was terminated in August, according to his Richmond Heights application. It's unclear why he was fired and Streetsboro Mayor Glenn Broska could not be reached for comment. NEOMG has requested his Streetsboro personnel file.

Prior to his time in Streetsboro he worked as an attorney at the 11th District Court of Appeals from 2004-2008 and was a financial consultant for four years.

Michalec began working for Richmond Heights June 2, he said, but council members said they didn't find out the city had a new finance director until after Headen hired him. This outraged some members of council, since department heads are subject to council approval.

Headen's new assistant, Ed Busch, defended the hasty hiring by saying Michalec was being hired on a temporary basis, but his offer letter indicates he is a permanent employee.

Headen replaced Ellis with Chardon City Councilman and former Chardon Finance Director Jeff Smock only to fire him five months later. This was after she publicly praised him at several council meetings for his work on the 2014 budget.

Who he is: Monaco is a Mayfield Heights Councilman and was building commissioner in Pepper Pike for nine years. He was a building inspector in Mayfield Heights and Lyndhurst; and a plumbing inspector for Richmond Heights in the '90's.

Salary: $84,000 without benefits. Council President Roche said his contract expires in 60 days. The city was originally going to pay him $74,000, but added an extra $10,000 since he isn't receiving benefits.

Headen sent out a press release (below) Monday notifying residents that she had hired Monaco, Michalec, several other administrative employees, and Joseph Szeman as the city's law director, but council denied Szeman Tuesday.

Council President Roche said council prefers to continue working with Walter Haverfield because the firm is familiar with the city, and the previous law director, Todd Hunt, was cheaper.

Szeman was to make $60,000 per year plus $125 per hour for special services. Hunt made $33,000 per year plus $125 for special services. The city is paying Walter Haverfield $5,000 per month and $150 for special services.

The resolution to appoint service department employee Mark Paluf as service director was tabled and removed on Tuesday, because Paluf couldn't become director without leaving the union. The former director, Donald Lazar, retired last month.

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